Letter to Duncan Hunter
To:
margaret@gohunter08.com
Subject: Hunter's Internet Gaming Stance
Dear Rep. Hunter,
I posted my objections to your stand supporting a federal prohibition on Internet poker on Townhall.com. A poster asked why I objected. I thought I'd share my reply to her with you. Can you post a reply on your website, given that you're so passionate about this prohibition? Thanks.
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My initial post:
Read his website issues page, at
http://www.gohunter08.com/inner.asp?z=4. He's just another big government CINO. It seems he has a federal spending program for everything he likes, and federal prohibition for everything he doesn't (i.e., just a Democrat, but with different issues).
Here's a gem:
"I also believe Internet gambling has become a problem as serious as traditional casino gambling. Law enforcement agencies have indicated that this activity serves as a vehicle for money laundering activities that can be exploited by terrorists and organized crime. It is for this reason that I cosponsored H.R. 4777 (Goodlatte-VA) which will amend federal law and bring the current prohibition against wireline interstate gambling up to date with the Internet and other new technologies. At the same time, the bill will provide additional tools to law enforcement to combat illegal gambling."
LOL! Last time I checked, this was properly legislated at the state level. And, his "issues" have all been conclusively proven to be red herrings. He wants to ban Internet poker simply because HE doesn't like it.
Sorry Duncan....no presidency for you.
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My reply to the poster's inquiry:
No problem with an explanation of my position. Thanks for asking.
I do have many issues with Hunter's position. First of all, gaming is traditionally a state-level issue. States that wish for Internet gaming to be illegal should pass legislation that does just that. To date, only seven to twelve (depending on interpretation of laws passed and on type of gaming) have passed such legislation. Of these, only Washington and Louisiana have laws with any teeth. If these states feel so strongly about this issue that they need federal aid in enforcement, I feel they should pass unambiguous laws against Internet gaming. Until then, the feds should stay out of it.
Next, this is an issue of freedom. What business is it of the federal government what I do in my own home? We’ve never had a federal government so powerful that they felt they had a need to monitor my poker playing behavior in my own home.
And, enforcement is a difficult issue. Under UIGEA (last year’s bill), banks and Internet service providers will be deputized by the feds to monitor Americans for compliance with the law (once the governing regulations are issued). And, the DoJ will censor the Internet to prevent Americans from visiting these sites (like China and Iran do). Also, the DoJ won’t have to prove that these sites offer illegal gaming…they’ll be allowed to block whatever they interpret to be illegal (games of skill like poker being a good example here). Is this the America in which we wish to live?
Finally, the U.S. has already agreed to allow Internet gaming in our agreements with the WTO. They recently found America to be out of compliance, and have fined us billions in trade concessions (these will take effect soon…appeals are over, only the penalty phase remains). So, this issue will cost America even more jobs, plus billions in trade. The sad thing here is that we could have avoided this outcome with a total ban on Internet gaming (if it’s so “wrong”, why not ban all of it, if one is voting on principle). However, as usual, special interests were able to protect interstate horse racing, lotteries, and fantasy football. So, our most successful companies will soon be paying what I call the “Mitch McConnell Horse Racing Subsidy” and the “NFL Fantasy Football Tax”.
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Sincerely,
TheEngineer